Is tea all you have to offer to me?" Aurelius growled.
Charlotte instinctively whipped her head up at his question and was startled by his glowing red pupils; it was like blood-red fire. His fangs had lengthened, making Charlotte panic even more—she was terrified. Even in her terror, she couldn't help but behold his handsome features. His strong presence is befitting a king. As he neared her, she stepped backward slowly, confused about what to do. Should she beg for mercy? Should she ask him what he wants from her? What if he wants her body? She gasped at the thought, and her heart thumped even harder.
"Take one more step, and it will be your last," he warned. She stiffened at his order, her hands clenching tightly to the tray, bowing her head as she hoped for a miracle. She suddenly missed her dad; it felt like she was going to die at any moment.
Amidst her thoughts, she felt a hand grab her chin roughly. His towering frame loomed above her as he looked down at her, his eyes filled with a primal rage that Charlotte couldn't fathom. All she did was bring tea; is this how he terrifies his maids? She'd rather feed Koda than serve the king, she thought.
He bent even further, their faces almost colliding, and Charlotte dropped the tray, spilling the now warm tea on Aurelius.
She shrieked at her mistake and went on her knees.
"I deserve to die," she wailed. "Show no mercy, your majesty."
She had done the unforgivable. If it were heard that she ruined the king's dress, especially in a medieval kingdom like this, the mildest punishment she could get is being whipped until her voice is gone from crying for mercy, the gravest being death by the blade. Even in her worst days back home, she was never whipped. Hitting and more gruesome chores were the preferred punishment.
Hot tears trickled down her face. She came this far only to die because of a silly mistake like this.
"You really have no idea?" the king questioned.
"Pardon my slow-wittedness, my Lord, I have no idea," she said amidst her bawling. She seemed truly terrified. Aurelius could tell from her actions and her heartbeat. He felt her confusion and terror.
He had never heard of a situation whereby a werewolf doesn't recognize his or her mate. She possibly can't be lying. When she said she had no idea, her heart didn't skip, and her eyes didn't dart around. She wasn't lying to him. He scanned her as she knelt before him, trembling. She had no aura and she looked so pathetic. She looked like a scrawny young lady, even though her pale delicate skin spoke of refinement and past comfort. Not what he wanted as his queen even if he was going to have one. He doesn't want a dominant woman, but a weak she-werewolf would be baggage for any werewolf.
"She is your mate notwithstanding," Kiel argued.
"Are you with her, or you're with me?"
"I'm with you. That's why we should have her with us."
"Then come out of me and take her yourself."
He saw her peek at him; she must be anxious, waiting for his decision. She is a maid after all, and she had committed a great offense. Her wailing seemed to stir something in him, and for a moment, he felt helpless.
Charlotte peeked up once again and saw that Aurelius was no more in the garden, and she crumbled on the ground in relief. The experience she just had was even more fearful than her encounter with the mercenary.
Since he didn't pass judgment immediately, could it mean that she is forgiven? She hoped that was the case as she picked what was left of the tray and cups she brought in earlier and walked briskly out of the garden. She didn't tell anyone about the incident so as not to stir the wrath of the king if the news flew around.
As she lay on the thin fabric on the ground of her room that couldn't shield her in the slightest from the chilliness emanating from the cold ground, she thought about how she survived death yet again. The king is just as fearsome as they say he is. She once overheard some young maids giggling and talking about the king's presence in the courtyard in the maids' quarters. She now understands why they had that dreamy look whenever they were taking turns talking about their encounters with him. His looks alone would make the strongest of women crumble and succumb to his will. One can drown in his pupils that look like a clear bloodied lake. She remembered how his sharp nose nearly met hers, and redness crept up her cheeks.
She never had the luxury to admire the other gender because she was usually in the palace working or cooped up in her room playing her flute. Her flute. She missed her flute and her father's food.
Her little room, which is no different from a cell, had no source of light save the little candle she traded her dinner for. She just had to manage till she was fully registered as a palace maid and was given her daily wage. She planned to get some firewood that she could make within the fireplace. She cannot contain this for too long. She smiled at her tenacity; maybe she was stronger than she thought.
The king in his chamber lay on his bed; he wasn't reading like he does every night. He was conflicted about the incident in the afternoon.
He wondered why she didn't react when she saw him. Did she not have an idea? That was impossible, he thought. Again, she didn't look like a werewolf; she looked frail and her iris was pitch black. With a whisper, his head bodyguard, Darius, came in.
"A maid served me tea this afternoon. Find out everything that can be known about her."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Dawn came quickly, and Charlotte awakened to carry out her duties. As she was not assigned to a particular post yet, she did menial tasks.
"Charlotte!" the chief steward called out.
"Yes, my lady," Charlotte replied.
"You've now been added to the register. Welcome to the royal palace of Fristia. Follow the rules, and you won't die. Don't waste your precious self," the chief steward advised her fondly.
Charlotte was very grateful that she was at least on the good side of the chief stewardess. Any maid would think twice before mistreating her, or so she thought. She was assigned to the king's chamber, which surprised her. She was only a new maid. Is the chief stewardess that trusting of her? She would have to make it up to her then.
She remembered the encounter with the king the previous day, and her heart skipped a beat. She would have to be careful in the king's chamber so as not to incur the wrath of the king. To her relief, she wasn't posted to the king's room but to the garden. Seems like the garden would be an important part of her life. She cleaned the gazebo and swept the clear spaces in the garden. After her work, she sat a bit to take in the beautiful scenery. Though she was enjoying her moment in the garden, she had to leave quickly, so as not to cross paths with the king. Thankfully, she didn't see the king.
On her way back, she saw a little bevy of maids standing in a corner, their hands crossed as if they were waiting for someone or something. She was about to walk past them when one of them suddenly pointed her full claws at Charlotte's eyeballs. She frowned, wondering what the little maids might be up to.
"What makes you this weak, pathetic pup so special? Every maid starts from the kitchen, but you are taken to the king's quarters."
"I believe that the chief stewardess knows her job well and decides where to assign the maids," Charlotte replied calmly. She didn't mind having foes but she should at least not make some by herself.
"Let's see if you can still talk so smoothly with that pretty face of yours," one of them growled before taking out a little vial. The others held her down as the maid holding the vial forced the content down Charlotte's throat. It was finely pressed wolf's bane. Even the strongest of wolves would be destabilized after taking in such an unhealthy amount of that harmful substance.
After the little bottle had been emptied down Charlotte's throat, they dropped her and hurried away. Charlotte calmly stood up from the ground and dusted her brown cotton skirt. She was naturally immune to wolf's bane and other substances that could harm the system of other werewolves. If not for that, she would be dead by now.
She contemplated having revenge, but that would further complicate things. Showing up in their midst alive was enough revenge.